8 Ways to Celebrate Mother's Day if Your Mom Has Passed Away

No matter how much time passes, the pain of losing your mom is something that stays with you forever. Though Mother's Day is a wonderful time to spend with your family and children, it can also be pretty somber if your mom has passed away.

Below, we've compiled a list of ways you can remember your mom on that Sunday in May, beyond simply reflecting back on Mother's Days past. Some are a little silly, some are more meaningful, but what's important is that you'll be keeping her in your thoughts during a day that can be difficult to get through.

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Make Her Favorite Recipe

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Whether it's her classic oatmeal raisin cookies or sipping her go-to sweet tea, the simple act of making the same recipe she was so fond of can make you feel closer to her. It's especially significant to make this recipe with your children, sharing memories of cooking with her as you go.

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Volunteer at Her Favorite Charity

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Did she have a favorite animal rescue facility? Did she spend time volunteering at a homeless shelter? Spend a few hours on Mother's Day following in her footsteps and giving back to an organization she held dear. Visit Volunteer Match to find places to volunteer in your city.

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Turn Her Old Scarves Into a Quilt

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Stitch together her old scarves to create a quilt or throw blanket. You can either display it in your living room as cozy keepsake, or save it for more difficult times when you're really missing her.

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Eat at Her Favorite Restaurant

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If some of your favorite memories with mom include Saturday morning brunches at your local cafe, take Mother's Day weekend to revisit that spot and quietly replay some of your most cherished moments. Bring your family or siblings along and spend your meal trading special stories about mom.

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Plant Her Favorite Flowers

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Head to the nursery and pick up some of her the blooms she loved. Not only will the act of planting them make you feel closer to her, but you'll be able to think of her every time you look in your backyard.

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Release a Message in a Bottle

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Write a note to mom, catching her up on the past year of your life: the successes, the hard times, the moments you most wished she had been there to see. Place in an empty bottle and release into the sea (or the lake).

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Make a Scrapbook

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Fill a scrapbook with mementos from her life: cards she gave you, photos, small trinkets that remind you of her. Add to it each year with items or photos that reminded you of her (family vacations, a holiday celebration).

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Immortalize Her Recipe

Courtesy of Etsy + 3DCarving

Etsy shop 3DCarving scans and lasers a handwritten recipe card on a cutting board so you can always keep her famous cherry pie recipe handy—and simultaneously remember her classic penmanship.

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Dedicate a Section of Your Bookshelf to Her

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Clear a shelf on your living room or office bookshelf for books that remind you of her, or ones that she held near and dear. You can encourage your children or grandchildren to visit the shelf and page through the books as a way to feel closer to her.

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